Well, not the mouse but the battery inside it (Duracell M3 or similar).
Sometime after that the mouse pointer shot off across the screen on its own accord, froze and refused to budge.
Rebooted, checked USB connection, loaded new batteries and un-installed and re-installed driver and associated programs.
Result is that it works except that: when I left click on anything in the quick launch bar, nothing happens, when I left-click on Start the menu jumps up and then disappears in a blink of an eye.
Strangely enough the left button works fine in the test area of the settings program for the mouse. And it does allow me to left click on "back" and "forward" in IE among other things.
No spyware, no viruses, no trojans etc... Win 2k, sp4 - haven't checked the mouse in the PS2 port - but have stand-by mouse plugged in there now to allow me to carry on.
Not a major drama but curious as to what could cause that, though suspect mouse is due for early retirement - shame 'cause I only had three years
Any clues before I send it its last pay-cheque/check?
Charles
ps: Mouse= Mouseman Optical by Logitech.